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Need to Appoint a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner?

Appointing a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner (IP) is essential when your company is experiencing financial distress or insolvency.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Appointing a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner

A licensed IP ensures your insolvency process complies with UK law, protects directors from potential liabilities, and manages relationships with creditors and stakeholders effectively.

Here’s a structured, human-friendly guide to appointing a licensed IP:

StepDescription
1. Identify Financial DistressRecognise early warning signs of financial difficulty such as persistent cash flow problems, creditor pressures, legal threats, or unpaid taxes. Early identification provides more solutions and better outcomes.
2. Initial ConsultationContact a licensed IP for an initial confidential consultation. Trusted firms like Anderson Brookes provide free initial consultations to assess your situation and outline your potential options.
3. Understand Your OptionsYour IP will discuss viable insolvency solutions tailored to your company, such as Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL), Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), or administration. Clear, professional advice at this stage is crucial.
4. Select an Insolvency ProcedureChoose the best-suited insolvency solution based on expert guidance, carefully considering factors such as legal obligations, creditor positions, and asset protection.
5. Formal Appointment of IPSign a formal engagement letter with your selected IP, authorising them to act officially on behalf of your company. This marks the beginning of their formal role managing the insolvency process.
6. Notify Creditors and StakeholdersThe IP immediately informs all creditors and stakeholders of their appointment. They handle all communications, reducing pressure on directors and ensuring transparency throughout the process.
7. Execute the Insolvency ProcedureThe IP manages every stage of the insolvency process, including asset realisation, creditor distributions, and completing all legal obligations efficiently and transparently.

Why Choosing the Right IP is Important

Selecting the right insolvency practitioner significantly impacts your insolvency outcome because:

  • Experience: A seasoned IP provides tailored and strategic advice, crucial in achieving optimal outcomes for your business and creditors.

  • Legal Compliance: Proper management of insolvency processes by a licensed professional ensures adherence to UK insolvency laws, significantly reducing directors’ personal risk.

  • Effective Communication: Clear, transparent communication with creditors reduces conflict, ensures smoother negotiations, and leads to quicker resolutions.

  • Trust and Clarity: Having a trusted IP providing transparent explanations at every stage gives confidence and peace of mind during a difficult process.

 

Connect with Anderson Brookes for Expert Help

Anderson Brookes’ Licensed Insolvency Practitioners offer clear, professional guidance, managing your insolvency process efficiently and empathetically.

Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation:

Acting promptly with trusted professional support ensures the best possible outcomes for you, your business, and all stakeholders involved.

Key Questions Before Appointing an IP

To ensure you appoint the right practitioner, consider asking these essential questions:

QuestionWhy it Matters
Are you licensed and regulated?Verifies the IP’s qualifications and regulatory oversight, ensuring your insolvency procedure is managed professionally and legally. See Licensed IP vs Unregulated Adviser.
Can you provide examples of similar cases you’ve managed?Ensures their experience aligns with your company’s unique situation, giving confidence in their ability to deliver positive outcomes.
What insolvency procedure do you recommend and why?Demonstrates their depth of understanding, allowing you to assess their tailored approach and confidence in providing effective solutions.
What outcomes and timelines can I realistically expect?Helps set clear expectations, enabling effective planning and reducing uncertainty.
How do you structure your fees?Provides transparency regarding costs, allowing better budgeting and ensuring no hidden surprises.
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Can you liquidate your limited company?

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How many people are currently working in the business?
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Testimonials

Our clients praise our professionalism, reliability, and the exceptional support we provide during challenging times, helping thousands of company directors through insolvency, liquidation, and business debt solutions.

"We had the unpleasant, highly stressful experience of being the Directors of a business that was beyond help, despite our best efforts. Jon was absolutely brilliant, going way above and beyond. Not only was Jon a professional, knowledgeable person helping us go through the process of a liquidation, but he was also a safe pair of hands, and an empathetic voice to discuss even the tiniest detail with. He never rushed us, he used language that we understood and he was an excellent communicator. Jon made a very stressful, upsetting time feel manageable and in control."
Madeleine Cole
"It has become very unfortunate that the company has had to go into administration. Anderson Brookes have bee efficient, reactive to our needs and totally communicate every step of the way. The experience whilst personally been painful to have to make such a decision, the company dealing with these affairs have acted professionally and been responsive to our questions."
Derek Clarke
"Fantastic service and company from start to finish. Isabel Cross looked after my case she was very informative, professional, reassuring and reliable. I cannot thank you enough!"
Marianne YatesCEO
"From the first call I received from Anderson Brookes I was very impressed with how friendly and professional they were. I agreed to take them on to liquidate my company and very pleased with my decision. All done and dusted in very quick order."
Lynne BullCEO
"First Class Company, Friendly, Knowledgeable, Caring, Most Helpful And Give Great Peace Of Mind. They Took All The Worry And Weight Off My Shoulders And Gave Me Great Peace Of Mind To Let GoOf My Problem. Thank You Ever So Much Rebecca Marsden And Her Team.
Ray Gowrie
"Amazing company who conducted our liquidation very thoroughly and professionally, I was fortunate enough to have Jon Rudd as my case manager who helped me every step of the way. Highly recommended and a big thank you to you Jon!"
Lewis Beaumont
"With the help of Anderson Brookes I now have a massive weight of my shoulders. They were very helpful from start to finish."
Andrew Colley
"Great service. I wish I got in touch earlier. I'm finally getting some proper sleep. Thank you to Emmie and the team 🙏"
Vie Sidibe
"I used Anderson Brookes when I got into bother with my ltd company. After getting other prices and talking with different companies I felt happiest with these. Great service helped throughout and any questions I had (I had a lot) they were more than happy to answer and put my worries at ease. Top marks thank you to everyone that has helped"
Luke Singleton
"I was assisted every step of the way by Rebecca and her team. Eddy was very helpful through the entire process. I would highly recommend Anderson Brookes to anyone going through a similar situation to me."
James Cockney

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a company in England or Wales? These are your limited company business debt, liquidation and insolvency questions answered.

No. Only a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner can place a company into liquidation. 

Placing the company into liquidation will stop debt enforcement, including bailiff action. The directors are usually in control of the process and can choose the liquidator. In most cases, it can be completed within two weeks without needing to attend any formal meetings. Company debts are usually written off unless they are personally guaranteed. Directors who act responsibly can show they handled the company’s financial affairs properly.

No. Only a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner can liquidate a company. A director can apply to dissolve a company through Companies House, but only if certain conditions are met. If the company is insolvent, it may be a criminal offence to apply for strike-off. Always take professional advice before doing this. If you think you might qualify for dissolution, call us and we’ll explain the process. See our Licensed vs Unregulated page. 

This happens when a creditor applies to court to wind up a company due to non-payment of a debt over £750. If the court agrees, the company is placed into compulsory liquidation. This often leads to more problems for directors, who may find it harder to defend against accusations such as wrongful trading. It is usually better to start the process voluntarily. See Strike Off vs Voluntary Liquidation for more details. 

It depends on your situation. In most cases, the directors do not pay the costs personally. The liquidation is paid for using company assets. We are a small practice based in Bolton with low overheads, so we offer some of the most competitive fees in the UK. All costs will be confirmed in writing before we proceed. You may also be interested in CVL Costs. 

 

This is a new limited company that starts after an old one has gone into liquidation. It allows the business to carry on with the profitable parts of the original company. There are strict rules about reusing a company name, so it’s important to get advice before going ahead. For further detail and more simple explanations of insolvency and liquidation terms see our Glossary. 

An MVL is used when a company is still solvent and can repay all its debts. It may be the right option if directors want to retire or step away from the business. MVLs can offer tax benefits, but they must be handled by a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. See all types of liquidations. 

If a company is insolvent and directors carry on trading, they may be accused of wrongful trading. A director could be held personally liable if they knew, or should have known, that the company couldn’t avoid liquidation and did not act to reduce losses. Acting early helps reduce this risk.

No. Many businesses contact us who do not need formal insolvency procedures. We help explore all the options, including self-help and informal solutions. If formal action is needed, our Licensed Insolvency Practitioner can act for you directly.

Closing a Limited Company with Debts?

Fast and Stress-Free Solutions.

Start closing your limited company today. Placed into liquidation within 8 days. We fully understand that timing is critical.

Worried about your Bounce Back Loan?

Need to close your limited company? Speak to an expert who’s helped thousands do the same – even with company debts or creditor pressure.

Stop Creditor Pressure

Getting constant calls from creditors? Closing your company through liquidation can give you the relief to move forward.

Directors: Avoid Risks When Winding Up Your Company

We guide you, simply, honestly. Let us handle everything.

Steven Kendall-Torry
Steven Kendall-Torry
Having to shut down your business is a very emotional and scary journey and although you think you’ve done everything correctly there’s always something you get wrong , small print , and rules one is unaware of which can surprise bite you on the bum and ruin your day ! We were fortunate to have Laura , Katie and the background Riki who considering they have a fairly thankless job to do they were always polite , very patient , and as helpful as they could be considering they generally were giving bad news which was rarely expected or welcome. Altogether they were good listeners and helpful we had to understand they still had to follow rules and a job to do and they managed the balancing act extremely well. Many thanks
Madeleine Cole
Madeleine Cole
We had the unpleasant, highly stressful experience of being the Directors of a business that was beyond help, despite our best efforts. Jon was absolutely brilliant, going way above and beyond. Not only was Jon a professional, knowledgeable person helping us go through the process of a liquidation, but he was also a safe pair of hands, and an empathetic voice to discuss even the tiniest detail with. He never rushed us, he used language that we understood and he was an excellent communicator. Jon made a very stressful, upsetting time feel manageable and in control.
Harvey J
Harvey J
Efficient and Professional Experience Two words to describe the experience: efficient and professional. No doubt you can appreciate that it’s a very stressful time for directors, but from my initial telephone conversation with Mike, and the decision to enter into a CVL, the process from start to finish was completed within two weeks. In addition to Mike, I would also like to mention the professionalism of the two other members of the AB team, Steve and Emmy. Worth mentioning as well that, where it was possible, the lines of communication were via WhatsApp which again massively improved and streamlined the whole process.
Derek Clarke
Derek Clarke
It has become very unfortunate that the company has had to go into administration. Anderson Brookes have bee efficient, reactive to our needs and totally communicate every step of the way. The experience whilst personally been painful to have to make such a decision, the company dealing with these affairs have acted professionally and been responsive to our questions.
Vie Sidibe
Vie Sidibe
Great service. I wish I got in touch earlier. I'm finally getting some proper sleep. Thank you to Emmie and the team 🙏
Andrew Colley
Andrew Colley
With the help of Anderson Brookes I now have a massive weight of my shoulders. They were very helpful from start to finish.
Lynne Bull
Lynne Bull
From the first call I received from Anderson Brookes I was very impressed with how friendly and professional they were. I agreed to take them on to liquidate my company and very pleased with my decision. All done and dusted in very quick order.
Ray Gowrie
Ray Gowrie
First Class Company,Friendly, Knowledgeable, Caring, Most Helpful And Give Great Peace Of Mind. They Took All The Worry And Weight Off My Shoulders And Gave Me Great Peace Of Mind To Let GoOf My Problem. thank You Ever So Much Rebecca Marsden And Her Team.
Andrew P
Andrew P
They are amazing in what they do, affordable fees compairing to other brookers, helped me with a LTD insolvency, i am over the moon with their services, would highly recommend. They are really knowledgable and straight forward.
Lewis Beaumont
Lewis Beaumont
Amazing company who conducted our liquidation very thoroughly and professionally, I was fortunate enough to have Jon Rudd as my case manager who helped me every step of the way. Highly recommended and a big thank you to you Jon!
Jaspreet Singh
Jaspreet Singh
Mr Rikki Burton and team are very professional, efficient and patient. The work conducted was very smooth and the transition Was without any hiccups. They gave time to put evidences upfront to support the liquidation. Great communication and highly recommended.
Luke Singleton
Luke Singleton
I used Anderson Brookes when I got into bother with my ltd company. After getting other prices and talking with different companies I felt happiest with these. Great service helped throughout and any questions I had (I had a lot) they were more than happy to answer and put my worries at ease. Top marks thank you to everyone that has helped
James Cockney
James Cockney
I was assisted every step of the way by Rebecca and her team. Eddy was very helpful through the entire process. I would highly recommend Anderson Brookes to anyone going through a similar situation to me.

Contact us today

As licensed insolvency practitioners, we provide regulated business debt advice and support for company directors.